search

30 August, 2011

Purvottasana or Upward Plank Pose

Sit in Dandasana (Staff Pose) with your hands several inches behind your hips and your fingers pointing forward. Bend your knees and place your feet on the floor, big toes turned inward, heels at least a foot away from your buttocks.Exhale, press your inner feet and hands down against the floor, and lift your hips until you come into a reverse tabletop position, torso and thighs approximately parallel to the floor, shins and arms approximately perpendicular.Without losing the height of your hips, straighten your legs one at a time. Lift your hips still higher without hardening your buttocks. Press your shoulder blades against your back torso to support the lift of your chest.Without compressing the back of your neck, slowly drop your head back. Hold for 30 seconds, then sit back down in Dandasana with an exhale.

Benefits

Strengthens the arms, wrists and legs

Stretches the shoulders, chest, and front ankles

Watchpoints

Make sure your hands are directly under your shoulder blades.

Make sure when your hips are lifted up, the whole body is in one straight line from head to toes.